Representation 365: Beyond Pride Season – Finding Queer Joy, Building Bridges and Leaving a Legacy
As Pride season 2026 unfolds, I find myself reflecting on a simple but powerful truth: being LGBTQ+ does not begin and end in June.
Being queer POC is a 365-days-a-year experience.
Just as being Black, South Asian, disabled, or belonging to any marginalised community does not switch on and off according to a heritage month or awareness campaign, our lived experiences continue long after the banners come down, and the social media posts fade away.
Representation matters every day of the year.
That belief sat at the heart of Representation 365: Building Bridges Over Barriers — a series of events delivered in partnership between University of the Arts London (UAL) and UK Black Pride. What began as an idea evolved into a meaningful and impactful programme of conversations, reflections and community building. It was a privilege to be involved in bringing this vision to life alongside colleagues at UAL, particularly Jason Forrest, whose commitment, partnership and determination helped transform the concept into reality.
As we concluded the final event in the series, I was left with a profound sense of gratitude and hope.
Because if there is one thing our communities need right now, it is moments of joy.
Not superficial joy. Not performative optimism.
But genuine pockets of joy that remind us of who we are, where we come from, and what we are capable of achieving together.
In a world that can sometimes feel overwhelmed by division, uncertainty, pain and suffering, finding joy can be an act of resistance. Celebrating ourselves, our histories, our cultures and our communities can be a form of protest.
The finale event brought together an extraordinary panel of speakers whose stories reminded us why representation matters.
We were honoured to hear from Dr Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, political activist, speaker, Executive Director of the DIVA Charitable Trust and co-founder of UK Black Pride, whose decades of advocacy continue to shape conversations around racial justice, gender equality and LGBTQ+ liberation.
We were joined by Cyril Nri, the acclaimed British actor and director whose career has challenged barriers and expanded representation on stage and screen. From The Bill to Cucumber and more recently Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Cyril's journey is one of resilience, visibility and perseverance in the face of prejudice and discrimination.
We were also delighted to welcome Jay Jay Revlon, a pioneering figure within the UK Ballroom scene. Through their work as a DJ, host and community leader, Jay Jay continues to create vibrant, affirming spaces for queer people of colour and LGBTQ+ communities, demonstrating the transformative power of chosen family and collective care.
Guiding the conversation was Charmiane Chikiwa, a Zimbabwean-born British artist and recent UAL graduate whose thoughtful facilitation created space for honest reflection, connection and storytelling. We were also grateful for the support and leadership of Claudine Rousseau, Dean of the School of Design and Technology at London College of Fashion, UAL, whose commitment to creating inclusive environments helped make this collaboration possible.
Throughout the discussion, we heard stories of affirmation, belonging and courage. We explored the people, experiences and moments that shaped our speakers and the ways they continue to show up for their communities today.
One theme resonated throughout the evening.
Advocacy is not something many of us choose. For many queer people of colour, advocacy becomes an everyday reality simply because of who we are and how we move through the world.
Yet despite the challenges, our communities continue to create spaces of belonging. We continue to build networks of care. We continue to leave ladders behind us for those coming up after us, hoping they will find pathways that are safer, more welcoming and more affirming than those available to previous generations.
That, to me, is what representation looks like.
Not simply being visible.
But being intentional.
Creating opportunities. Opening doors. Holding space. Building bridges.
As someone who takes my role as a Board Member of UK Black Pride seriously, this year has also been a period of reflection. UK Black Pride has taken a strategic pause in 2026, creating space to rest, regroup and reimagine what comes next. While there may be a temporary absence from the calendar, the work, the community and the movement continue. We will return stronger, more intentional and more sustainable in 2027.
Because our liberation has never been confined to a single event.
What this final conversation in the Representation 365 series reinforced for me is that whilst we are witnessing challenges to rights and protections across the world, now is not the time to retreat from one another.
It is the time to come together.
Solidarity requires togetherness.
If we are serious about addressing the injustices we see around us, we must also be willing to examine our own communities, institutions and spaces. We must continue to listen, learn and challenge ourselves. We must be willing to build bridges where barriers exist.
Most importantly, we must continue to find joy.
Because joy sustains us.
Joy connects us.
Joy reminds us that our communities have always found ways not only to survive, but to thrive.
One day, our generation will become the ancestors future generations look back upon. The question is not whether we will leave a legacy, but what kind of legacy we choose to leave.
My hope is that Representation 365 leaves behind a reminder that visibility matters, storytelling matters, community matters and representation matters.
Not for a month.
Not for a season.
But every single day of the year.